On 12 April, another chartered plane carrying Afghan migrants arrived in Toronto and over 30,000 Afghans have now been ‘resettled’ in the country by the UN Migration Agency (IOM).
The IOM has been working closely with the Justin Trudeau government since August 2021 to fly Afghans into the country and grant them permanent Canadian residency.
– The safe and dignified resettlement of refugees globally has been a central part of IOM’s work for more than 70 years and we are proud to be part of Canada’s efforts to provide a new home for tens of thousands of vulnerable Afghans, said António Vitorino, Director General of IOM, adding that it ensures that Afghans are given “the opportunity to start their lives in safety”.
Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser calls the 30,000 Afghans received a “milestone” and “a testament to the commitment of our partners”.
– Welcoming 30,000 Afghans, even though Afghanistan is one of the largest and most difficult resettlement efforts in Canada’s history, is a significant achievement.
He further states that he has met Afghans who have had the chance to “build new lives in Canada” and that this makes him more determined than ever to “help as many vulnerable Afghans as possible”.
– We will continue to collaborate with our partners to do everything we can to bring Afghans in need of protection to safety, and to provide them with a new home and the support they need to thrive in Canada, he promises.
The UN agency IOM plays a “crucial role” in helping Afghans get to Canada. This includes coordinating flights, assisting with application processes, providing health assessments and “preparing Afghans for their new life in Canada”.
Canada’s left-wing Liberal government has pledged to accept at least 10,000 more Afghans and the IOM has also worked with the government to fly in large numbers of Syrian and Iraqi migrants in the past.
